Set It Up

Set It Up is a 2018 American romantic comedy film directed by Claire Scanlon, written by Katie Silberman, and starring Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Taye Diggs, and Lucy Liu. The plot follows two overworked assistants who try to set up their demanding bosses on dates in New York City. The film was released on June 15, 2018, by Netflix, to favorable reviews.[2][3]

Set It Up
Film release poster
Directed byClaire Scanlon
Produced by
  • Juliet Berman
  • Justin Nappi
Written byKatie Silberman
Starring
Music byLaura Karpman
CinematographyMatthew Clark
Edited byWendy Greene Bricmont
Production
company
Treehouse Pictures
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • June 12, 2018 (2018-06-12) (New York City)
  • June 15, 2018 (2018-06-15) (United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10.2 million[1]

Plot

Harper Moore is the 25-year-old assistant to Kirsten Stevens, a former journalist and now editor of an online sports journalism empire. Charlie Young is a 28-year-old assistant to the high-strung venture capitalist Rick Otis. Both work in the same building and meet one night when their bosses need dinner. Harper has ordered dinner for herself and Kirsten but has no cash on her to pay for it and Charlie, who was not able to order dinner for his boss, pays for it to give to Rick. After Harper tells him she will be fired if she does not return with food Charlie reluctantly allows her to take one of the meals.

Meeting Charlie the next day to reimburse him for the cost of the food, Harper expresses surprise that Charlie would work for such an abrasive and demanding boss. Charlie reveals that Rick is well-connected and a recommendation from him would guarantee his financial success. Harper expresses her deep admiration of Kirsten and her desire to write the sort of sports journalism that would make people cry. After complaining that they have no time for personal lives, Harper jokes that both of their bosses need to get laid. Charlie is initially disgusted by the comment, but after some thought Harper plans to get their bosses together, reasoning if they are dating each other they would have less time to overwork them. Charlie reluctantly joins in on the plan.

Their initial plot to have Rick and Kirsten "meet-cute" in a stalled elevator goes awry when they are joined by a delivery man suffering from claustrophobia who starts stripping. Charlie and Harper then arrange for their bosses to sit beside each other at a baseball game, bribing the operator of the kiss-cam to pressure them into kissing. After three attempts, Rick and Kirsten kiss. They begin dating, leaving Charlie time to spend with his model girlfriend Suze, and Harper time to date.

However things between Rick and Kirsten quickly become bumpy causing Harper and Charlie to realize they must work hard to keep their bosses together. They manipulate their bosses into staying together with notes, planning dates, gifts, etc. and also organizing a weekend getaway for them. Harper is able to attend her best friend Becca's engagement party. When her date ditches her, Charlie accompanies her and the two have an enjoyable night.

After their vacation, Rick and Kirsten return and inform their assistants they are engaged. Harper and Charlie are thrilled by the news, but Charlie quickly learns that Rick proposed to Kirsten to aggravate his ex-wife, whom he is still sleeping with. Charlie doesn't share the news with Harper, but she discovers it after accidentally hearing Rick having phone sex with his ex. She confronts Charlie and is disappointed to learn that he knew about it and still helped to manage Kirsten and Rick's marriage.

Harper goes to Kirsten and explains that she and Charlie manipulated them into dating and as soon as she is about to tell her about Rick, Kirsten fires her and plans to go on with the wedding.

Charlie realizing he doesn't love Suze, breaks up with her and runs to the airport where he quits his job and tells Kirsten that Rick doesn't love her and doesn't know her at all. Kirsten realizes it's true and breaks up with Rick.

Harper goes through a crisis but with Becca's pep talk, eventually decides to start writing again. Charlie is approached by Rick who asks for his help reuniting with his ex-wife whom he actually still cares for. Charlie turns over a folder he has on Rick's ex-wife.

Harper goes to her office to pick up her things and ran into Kirsten who tried to hire her back, but Harper refuses, telling her she needs to focus on her writing. Kirsten offers to help edit her article.

As she is leaving, Harper sees Charlie who has been called there by Kirsten. They realize that Kirsten is attempting to set them up. Charlie reveals that he quit his job and now works as a temp. The film ends with the two sharing a kiss realizing that they care for each other despite having many reasons to dislike each other.

Cast

Production

In February 2016, it was announced Emilia Clarke had been cast in the film, with Katie Silberman writing the film, while Justin Nappi and Juliet Berman producing the film under their TreeHouse Pictures banner, while Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was originally set to distribute the film.[4] In March 2017, it was announced Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell had joined the cast of the film, with Deutch replacing Clarke, Claire Scanlon directing from a screenplay written by Katie Silberman. Netflix eventually replaced Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as the film's distributor.[5] In June 2017, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu, and Joan Smalls joined the cast of the film.[6][7][8] Principal photography began in June 2017 in New York City.

Release

The film was released on June 15, 2018.[3]

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film is "certified fresh" with an approval rating of 92% based on 59 formal reviews, and an average rating of 6.99/10 from the site's users. The site's critical consensus reads, "Set It Up follows the long-established outlines of the rom-com template – and in the process, proves there's still substantial pleasure to be wrought from familiar formulas."[9] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[2]

Possible sequel

Scanlon has said in interviews that she has ideas for a possible sequel should Netflix schedule one.[10]

References
  1. "FILM TAX CREDIT – QUARTERLY REPORT-CALENDAR YEAR 2018: FOURTH QUARTER" (PDF). New York State: 6. December 31, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  2. "Set It Up Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  3. Trumbone, Dave (April 9, 2018). "Here Are All of Netflix's Original Movies Coming This Summer". Collider. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  4. Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 18, 2016). "MGM Eyes 'Game Of Thrones' Emilia Clarke For Katie Silberman Spec 'Set It Up'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  5. Kroll, Justin (March 30, 2017). "Zoey Deutch to Star With Glen Powell in Netflix's Romantic Comedy 'Set It Up' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  6. Galuppo, Mia (June 5, 2017). "Taye Diggs Joins Zoey Deutch in Netflix Comedy 'Set It Up' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  7. Busch, Anita (June 14, 2017). "Lucy Liu Joins Netflix Comedy Feature 'Set it Up'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  8. N'Duka, Amanda (June 20, 2017). "Joan Smalls To Make Acting Debut In Netflix Film 'Set It Up'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  9. "Set It Up (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  10. Rawden, Jessica (July 9, 2017). "Netflix's Set It Up Director Already Has Ideas For A Sequel". CinemaBlend. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
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